One of the classroom facilities at Johnston Community College
Eastern Guild Seminar set for this weekend
This weekend, Tim Hester and compnay have planned a top-of-the-line seminar for PPNC’s members. Taking place for the first time at Johnston Community College, the seminar will have a “We are Family” feel to it as
family members Lonnie Hoke, Chuck Hill, Ned Wynn, and Karen and Craig York inspire the membership to bigger, greater, more creative and more profitable heights. There’s a Saturay evening “shoot-out”
with PPNC mentors, a print critique and a pig picking for the whole family. For more informatiom, go to www. ppofnc.com.
Schedule Saturday, June 1
3-6 p.m. Shoot Out with PPNC Mentors $20 (NO CHARGE if Registered for Seminar)
Sunday, June 2
9-11 a.m. Craig and Karen York “How to get the “Dragon Warrior” out of your Panda” 11 a.m.-12 noon Print Critique with Q&A 12 noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own 1:30-3:30 p.m. Ned Winn “Mastering Studio Lighting” 3:30-4 p.m. Travel to Howell Woods for live scenic shoot and dinner 4-6 p.m. Chuck Hill “Seeing Beyond—Don’t Forget to Turn Around” 6 p.m.-until Pig Picking! Let’s play Eastern Style!
Monday June 3
8:30-10:30 a.m. Chuck Hill (continued) “Seeing Beyond, Finishing Touches” 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Lonnie Hoke “Learn From the Past, Live in the Present; Keep an Eye on the Future” 12 noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own Image by PPNC Eastern Guild presenter Chuck Hill
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‘Learn From the Past, Live in the Present; Keep an Eye on the Future’ Lonnie Hoke, M. Photog., Cr., CPP, F-Photog. Passionate in his chosen career, Lonnie holds the Master of Photography Degree, Photographic Craftsman Degree, is a Certified Professional Photographer and has received the highest level of awards given by his profession. He is a past president of the Professional Photographers of South Carolina and director of the Lamar School of Photography. Since 1997, Lonnie has become one of the most awarded photographers
in the state of South Carolina having accumulated over 30 First Place awards in the categories of Children, Family, High School Senior, Bridal, Men, Women, Wedding Album and Wedding Candid in the Professional Photographers of South Carolina Print Competition. Very few have been unaffected by the seismic change that has occurred in our industry in the last several years, it has touched nearly everyone. Join South Carolina
photographer Lonnie Hoke as he shares his experience of the last five years to include having left photography for a time, only to return and start new with an exciting outlook for the future. Having stepped away from the career he loved gave him insight as to what changes would have to be made if he were to return successfully. So together let’s learn from the past, live in the present & keep an eye on the future.
‘Seeing Beyond – Don’t Forget to Turn Around’ Chuck Hill, M. Photog., F-Photog. In this program Chuck will demonstrate how he photographs scenic images. He will go over the equipment and the process of deciding what and how to photograph each subject. In this
two- part class there will be a live scenic demonstration at Howell Woods, an environmental learning center that is part of Johnston Community College. The second half of the program will
kick off on Monday morning, back at Johnston Community College where Chuck will share what Programs and features he uses in Photoshop to add finishing touches to create sellable images.
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‘How to get the ‘Dragon Warrior’ out of your Panda’ Craig York, F-Photog. Karen York, Cr. Photog., F-Photog. Craig is a second generation photographer in the Triad area and Karen has a successful studio in Columbia, N.C. Combined in life and art they now a dynamic duo of creativity and artistry. Are you wondering what the secret is for success in your photography busi-
ness and in your personal life. Are you thinking that you need to know what the secret ingredient is for the BEST noodle soup ever. If you could just figure all this stuff out ... you would be the best of the best in your area. ALL these other people are charging basically nothing for their
CD’s let alone any printed work. How are they doing that? ... better yet WHY are they doing that? What’s your future? Hey what’s my future? Maybe I’ll be a cardiothoracic surgeon ... I have a scalpel and a cute nurse.
‘Mastering Studio Lighting’
Ned Winn, Photog. Cr., CPP, F-Photog. Ned has earned the Craftsman Degree and the CPP. He is also a PPNC Fellow. He is a CPP Liaison for Professional Photographers of America and teaches a class at Wake Community College in photography. In this program Ned will demonstrating how controlling
the amount of light, the quality of the light, the placement of the light, and the depth of shadow is essential to getting the effect and mood in a studio portrait. Whether you want to slim the face, or chisel the distinctive features of your subject, this program will illustrate how
to get that look. We will also demonstrate exactly how to take the compulsory images needed to pass the CPP image review for Certification, and how to do it without taking hundreds of images!
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Convention 2014 By Ellen LeRoy, M. Photog., F. Ph. In 2012, Paul Wingler and his support positions started the trend of updating PPNC to attract more members and adjust to the evolutionary changes we are seeing the the photography industry. Our new president, Bruce Williamson, wants to continue that tradition of adapting our organization to attract new members while maintaining the standards and skill sets of professional photography. With that in mind, we are excited to get started on the convention of 2014, and we have already started looking outside of the box to see if we can improve the experience of our members and attract new members as well. One of the most popular trends in modern photography education is the appeal of the hands-on experience. PPNC is fortunate to have Kevin Jordan in it's membership, a photographer in Fayetteville, who has been creating and organizing some of the newest models of hands-on photography around the nation. At this year's convention, attendees experienced the wonderful addition of the Light Pro Photo Bays sponsored by
Larson, which offered coaching in lighting and posing as members worked under the guidance of experienced coaches such as Adrian Henson and Larry Hershberger to better understand and control lighting in the studio environment. With this year's participation as a guide, Kevin plans to update, expand, and improve the program for 2014's convention. This year, instead of one person managing the entire responsibility for finding the speakers for the convention, a committee has been formed. We met together during this year's convention, and we are all excited about the brainstorming and collaborative progress we have made. Our first goal is to contact the biggest names that were on our list of “ultimate” speakers, and once we know who is available, we will start filling in the remaining spaces. We are trying to attract some wellknown speakers who will draw in new photographers to our convention, but we are also committed to maintaining the level of skills and integrity that distinguishes fad photographers from
true professionals who will maintain the integrity of our craft. For updates on speakers as we get commitments, keep an eye on our Facebook Group Page. (Contact Adrian Henson if you need information about that active hub of PPNC news.) Our convention committee positions have been filled, and in line with the suggestions of Bruce, we tried to get a mix of both established members and some of the newer, energized members who are eager to participate in the necessary work needed to support the organization. This is such a great way to make sure that our super dependable standby members don't get taken advantage of and burned out, while helping our newer members to feel more connected to and responsible for helping PPNC to thrive. Although the major positions have been filled, there will be a need for many to donate an hour or two of their time to volunteer among miscellaneous needs which arise throughout the convention. If you would like to be on that list, feel to contact me at eleroy@ec.rr.com.
PPA denounces ‘reckless’ statement of Yahoo! CEO Associations representing professional photographers of all types today denounced the comments made this week by Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, citing her words as reckless, bad for society, and shockingly out of touch with reality. On Tuesday, Mayer said, “There’s no such thing as Flickr Pro, because today, with cameras as pervasive as they are, there is no such thing, really, as a professional photographer.” Mayer could not be more wrong, and her statement shows a lack of understanding that is difficult to comprehend from someone who is a supposed industry leader. None of us would presume that purchasing a set of quality kitchen knives makes us a chef, or that owning a sports car makes us a racecar driver. And purchasing a top-notch camera does not miraculously endow the owner with the knowledge and experience needed to create professional-quality images. In reality, acquiring such skills takes years, even a
lifetime. Every day, professional photographers bring to bear their vast training and experience to capture the works of art that adorn our homes, galleries, publications and web sites. Their works become family heirlooms, emotional windows into our national psyche, and cultural icons. Mayer’s statement is deeply troubling not only because it casually dismisses one of America’s profoundly unique industries, but also because of the mindset it betrays; that technology is king and there is no room or need for human creative talent. The demand for access to the great works of American creators drives the growth of the Internet and Internet companies like Yahoo!. We are shocked that someone of her stature could have such a lack of understanding about the industry in which she works – one from which she profits so handsomely. As associations representing all facets of photography, we have encouraged industry growth and pro-actively promoted
change and adaptation for over 145 years, but we will never support the notion that the camera alone makes the photographer. We recognize that that Ms. Mayer has attempted to acknowledge her misstatement on Twitter, but do not believe she has gone far enough to undue the potential damage of her statement. We urge her to be more aggressive in doing so. One tangible way she can start is to show she appreciates the value of photographers’ creative talent by implementing new tools on Yahoo’s network to reduce the unauthorized use of creators’ intellectual property. This development should be troubling to all creators. We urge Yahoo! and its CEO to take meaningful measures that demonstrate their support of creators generally, and more specifically, the professional photographic community. Respectfully, Professional Photographers of America
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f/’s stop
By FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.
Standing behind SEPPA You may have heard that SEPPA has suddenly found itself, for the most part, without funds. Without a police report or a copy of any grand jury indictment in my hands, I dare not touch on any details (few are known) or who is responsible. I will say that our colleagues and board members were genuinely caught off guard by this and have no part in it. If you want more information than what I have offered here, you will need to talk to our executive director Loretta Byrd, our president, Bruce Williamson, or PPNC member and former SEPPA President Doug Peninger. That being said, my reason to mention this at all is to say that we need SEPPA. We need SEPPA first and foremost because it is the largest PPA regional affiliate. We need SEPPA becase it is what links North Carolina to every other state in our region. We all have friends, colleagues and mentors in other states simply because of SEPPA. We need SEPPA because most of us cannot afford to attend a PPA convention when it’s not within driving distance. And most of us cannot afford to attend WPPI in Las Vegas. We need SEPPA because it is the first chance each year for a PPA merit for those entering print competition.
When you join PPNC, you are automatically enrolled in SEPPA. Each SEPPA-region state pays $7 per state member to be in SEPPA. PPA members in North Carolina – and there are 800 of them – are not SEPPA members, unless of course they are members of PPNC or another state’s association. SEPPA’s convention, usually a large event, also suffered the lowest attendance in decades. Whatever caused that decline can be addressed at another time. Rick Gibbons has been asked to step in and supervise the repairs to SEPPA as its interim executive director. I think that SEPPA can be re-booted with Gibbons’ skills at organization. I am sure that Gibbons and the current SEPPA team will forge a new, stronger SEPPA.
Our convention
I thoroughly enjoyed our 2013 convention. The organizers and teams did a fantastic job. I thought I would miss the extra day, but that wasn’t the case. I stayed busy the entire time I was there. The Friday afternoon pre-convention classes are a great idea. It will take some getting used to not having an awards banquet. But, I completely understand doing away with the expense of it.
Next issue
I would like to suggest that we reallocate some of the food budget from the Sunday night party to the post-ceremony meal. Those were some hungry photographers and their plates couldn’t hold much more. I am thankful for the vendors we had at the trade show and I thought having the Pro Lab hands-on booths at the back was a stroke of genius. I think, too, we should put the print salon display in the trade show area to push more traffic in there. And the lighting is better. And, I think we should contact some electronics stores in the Raleigh-Durham area to see if they would like some free booth space for their biggest and best HD screens – and have five or six screens running through the digital court of honor prints. The best part of the convention was getting to meet and getting to know our new members. Never before at a convention have I seen a such a concentrated effort to make our new members feel at home from the expanded new members’ orientation dinner to the red-shirted counselors and guides to the grand entrance of new members at the annual business meetng. This is how it is done and definutely raises the bar for all state associations.
President’s Message By BRUCE WILLIAMSON, F. Ph.
We are family ... Hello to my PPNC Family! It has only been 70 days since the conclusion of one of the best PPNC conventions that I can remember. Thank you, past President Paul Wingler and your convention chair, Victoria Kelly. I hope that all of you are doing well and staying busy with your photography. Hopefully, you have applied some of the knowledge that you learned from the variety of educational programs that were offered during this annual event. Some of you may just be recovering from the impact of “information overload.” As a relatively new photographer and a new PPNC member, it took me most of the year to go through my notes and digest and apply information from my first PPNC convention in 1997. During that convention, I met many PPNC members and forged relationships that have continued to the present. In fact, I have not missed a single convention and only a couple of seminars. At each PPNC event, I learn something new. This information may come from one of the speakers or from a casual conversation during break or during a meal function. Why am I sharing this with you? Because, I feel strongly about personal, face-to-face, interaction among PPNC membership.
Remember, my PPNC convention theme for 2014 “We are Family!” In just a couple of weeks, June 1, 2 and 3, we will have the opportunity to have a Family Reunion at the Eastern Seminar at Johnston Community College in Smithfield. Seminar chair, Tim Hester, has assembled a great slate of talent. Please make plans to attend this event
PPNC Calendar PPNC Executive Board meeting – Sunday, June 2 – 11 a.m. PPNC Board Meeting – 12 noon-:130 p.m. Spring Seminar – June 1-3, 2012 East Coast School – August 4-8 PPNC Executive Board meeting – Sunday, October 11 – 11 a.m. PPNC Board Meeting – 12 noon-1:30 p.m. PPNC Fall Seminar – October 12-14 PPNC Executive Board Meeting- Sunday, January 19, 2014 Board Meeting – January 19 – 12 noon-1:30 p.m. Winter Seminar January 18-20, 2014 PPNC Convention February 28 - March 4 Board Meeting – February 28 – 7 p.m.
to learn and fellowship with our PPNC Family. Under the new dues structure, your registration may be covered. Check your membership status on the PPNC website. We are fortunate that 77 new members joined our organization from the 2012 convention until a few weeks after the 2013 convention. Many new members attended the largest new member reception that I can remember. Then, they were introduced at the annual all-member business meeting. How awesome was that! The Facebook comments from that experience were great! Speaking of new members; have you asked a non-PPNC member to join our great organization? New members are essential to the growth of PPNC. As we continue through this year, I want to challenge each member to the following: 1. Recruit one new member; 2. Attend all PPNC events (note the dates in this edition); 3. Get actively involved, volunteer, write an article, make suggestions for improvement and share your experience; 4. Email me the oldest family photo that you have in your files. I look forward to seeing you in a few days. Thank you Family!
Certification preparation class in July PPA will host a Certification prepartion class July 15-17 at PPA headquarters Atlanta, Georgia. Participants can stay at the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Downtown. Remember to reserve your room by June 25 for best rates/availabilities. PPA Members receive two merits for attending. The cost is $299
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Pro
Product Review
By FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.
ProShow Web is ‘golden’ I have discovered my new favorite
slideshow creator – ProShow Web.
For five years, I was with Animoto, a wonderful company and during that time, I created more than 250 slide shows with them. When I was mugged earlier this year, my wallet was stolen. It contained the only credit card I carry – a prepaid Master Card. I used it only for online purchasing and only loaded it as needed. When I received my replacement card, I attempted to renew my Animoto account. It wouldn’t accept the card. I contacted Animoto and was informed that prepaid credit cards were not accepted. Never mind that for the past three years, all I had used with Animoto was a prepaid card. I understand why airlines and hotels shy away from prepaid cards but not Animoto. During the previous 12 months, 37 different vendors accepted my card including PPA, PPNC, NC Tricolor Lab, Issuu.com, PhotoBiz, Network Solutions, Constant Contact, StompBloggers, Amazon, Facebook, PayPal, Apple ... the list goes on.
Slideshows are super easy with ProShow Web Naturally, I began searching for a new website host and I found it in three minutes ... ProShow Web. Back in my PC days, I loved ProShow Gold and lamented the fact they had no software for Apple when I made the platform switch. When I discovered ProShow has a web version that worked with Windows and
Macs, I was ecstatic. For starters, it’s about $100 less per year. Now, it doesn’t have the massive royalty free music library Animoto boasts, but it has more than I will ever need or use. It has 71 slideshow themes to choose from and each of these are infinitely customizable, something Animoto doesn’t
allow you to do. You can apply any of the hundreds of free effects to any of the images. There are also packages of effects you can purchase for $19.95 each. I purchased two. The interface is simple to use. You import your images or videos from your computer or from Facebook, Flicker, Zenfolio, Smug Mug, InstaGram or from existing ProShow Web shows. You choose the music from your own selection or from ProShow’s library of about 300-plus tunes, mostly instrumental. You name it and have the choice of allowing it to automatically set the “energy level” or customizing it yourself. Like Animoto, you add call to action buttons with links at the end of the shows. You can also remove all references to ProShow for your own branding. Here’s a major point where ProShow Web outshines Animoto. Like Animoto, it will make mp4 videos in 240 pixels for mobile devices as well as standard definitions of 360 pixels, 480 pixels and DVD ISO for making DVDs.
And, like Animoto, it will make HD in 720 pixels. But, ProShow Web also make an mp4 in 1080 pixels and Blue-ray ISO. For those of you with Windows comoputers, you can download the show into your computer for incredible tweaking. ProShow Web videos can be shared directly on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and SmugMug, They can also be linked or embedded with Photodex as the host. The ultimate package – premium – is $150 per year. Shows can be up to 12 minutes inlength or 500 photos. Each video clip can
be up to 30 seconds. You can aso use ProShow Web’s app on iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. I wholeheartedly recommend ProShow Web. Its ease-of-use makes it an awesome product and the end results are aweseom. I have no animosity against Animoto. They make a good product also. I am thankful their shortsightedness on prepaid credit cards opened my eyes to other possibilities.
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Product Review
By FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.
Rapid Box Octa light delivers big punch During the last 30 minutes of this year’s trade show, I was talking with some buddies near the main entrance of the trade show hall when I noticed a fellow in one of the trade show booths playing with a collapsible dome light. It was small and designed for an oncamera flash or “speedlight” as they are called now. It caught my eye. It was the Rapid Box – 26-inch Octa from Westcott Lighting Systems. I studied it and was impressed with how tough and well-built it was. It was so new the vendor, Midwest Photo Exchange, didn’t have the product code in their computers. I ordered one. Three weeks later, it arrived. Now, it was a snug fit for my nearly 20-year-old Quantum Turbo Flashes so I decided to try my 10-year-old Nikon SB 80 flash, a flash that no longer works in TTL with any of my newer Nikons.
I also have a Quantum Bantam battery I used with this. Presto! Eureka! Magic! I now have a 26-inch octagonal location softbox with flash battery and stand that weigh in just under seven pounds. The Rapid Box Octa light has a durable framework with heavy-duty reflective silver and provides soft and evenly reflected light. It is very portable and works like an umbrella, although I keep mine set up in the back of by mini-van. According to Westcott’s website, most industry standard speedlites, except Sony models, will fit. Now, I know there are other speedlight-based dome-styled lights out there. This is the first one to catch my attention and, at $169, it’s a really good deal. The Rapid Box is available in a 20-inch size for $149 and as a 10x24 strip for $169. And, as I write this, I have discovered that for $20, I can order a deflector plate that scatters the light within the box like a beauty dish. Using my Pocket Wizards to remain untethered, I can quickly, move my light exactly where I need it to be. I highly recommend this modifier.
The portability of the Rapid Box Octa adds punch to any outdoor portrait.
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A Paradoy of a Smile Brian Allen
Chiquita Angela Blankenship Sentry in the Snow Jonathan Burton
PPNC photographers score big at SEPPA Twenty-three PPNC photographers merited prints at the 2013 Southeastern Professional Photographers Associations’ print competition. There were 863 entries in the print competition with 243 of entered as actual prints. Forty percent of prints merited and 30 percent of the digital entries merited. One entry – an album scored 100 There was a decrease in the number of print entries. Last year, SEPPA had the Master Artist judging in addition to the regular judging. Award sponsors
included H&H, ACI, White House, Millers and Polaroid. This year, PPA offered critiques and was such an overwhelming response, not only from SEPPA but from the North East District. PPA judges are working over-time to finish the 1,200-plus critiques that were requested.
State winners
The following PPNC members received awards during the 2013 SEPPA awards banquet.
Allen Brian 1000 reasons to stay in the Jeep 83 Allen Brian A parody about a smile 86 Allen Brian Desolation 82 Allen Brian His glory shines! 89 Blankenship Angela Charming 80 Blankenship Angela Chiquita 87 Boschker Janet Autumn Symphony 84 Boschker Janet Barn Art 82 Boschker Janet Moody Morning 86 Burgess Elizabeth Boys To Men 80 Burgess Elizabeth Winter Meets Spring 80 Burton Jonathan A New Chapter 86 Burton Jonathan River House 87 Burton Jonathan Sentry In The Snow 94 Burton Jonathan Shady Conversation 80 Carter Lisa Allure 84 Carter Lisa Frosty Morning 80 Cheek Rose Mary Composition in Red 85 Deere Jack All Wet 80 Deere Jack Mrs. Wright 80 Gray Rebekah Bring On The Rain 84 Gray Sam Footprints In The Sand 82 Gray Sam Red Swan 83 Gray Sam Storytime 81 Hansen Patricia Continental Divide 80 Henson Adrian Calico Jack 81 Henson Adrian Dominatrix 80 Henson Adrian Itty Bitty Lizzy 81 Henson Adrian One Fish Two Fish 85 Henson Adrian Sssymbolism 81 Henson Adrian Still Life 82 Hill Chuck Heaven Speaks 84
Men, First Place, Brian Allen; Children, Distinguished, Angela Blankenship; Brides, Distinguished, Jonathan Burton; Pets and Animals, Distinguished, Adrian Henson; Commercial, Distinguished, Debbie Johnson; Best in State, Jonathan Burton; Canon Par Excellence Open, Jonathan Burton; and Polaroid Best Wedding, Jonathan Burton. The photographers, the print titles and scores are listed below.
Hill Chuck Morning Shroud 80 Isaacs Mollie By Dawn’s Early Light 81 Isaacs Mollie Sunset Silhouettes 82 Isaacs Mollie Up, Up and Away 80 Jarzyna Connie Charlestonian Vibrance 80 Jarzyna Connie Reflections 85 Johnson Debbie Amelia 83 Johnson Debbie Swiss Village 84 Kreplin Gordon Indigo Blue 82 Kreplin Gordon Timeless Passage 81 LeRoy Ellen Circle of Thieves 81 LeRoy Ellen Sarah Beth 80 LeRoy Ellen Wood Duck Wake 82 McNeilly Randy A Year in the Life 81 McNeilly Randy Now and Then 83 McNeilly Randy The Anguish of Uncertainty 83 McNeilly Randy The Real McCoys 86 Rogerson Peggy Waiting for Audrey 80 Sadler Mona Caricature of Louie 80 Sadler Mona Once Again, Stella Gets Her Way 81 Sadler Mona Pterois 83 Sholin Marilyn LaJolla Surfs Up 80 Sholin Marilyn Waiting For The Sale 80 Turner Shannon Colin 82 Turner Shannon Maimed 89 Turner Shannon The Worley Family 81 Wingler Paul Innocence Lost 93 Wingler Paul Skillful Hands 89 Wingler Paul The Grieving One 81 Wingler Paul Woman Braiding Twine 88 Yu Liyun Highway Passing Textured Arizona 84
Photography you will love for a lifetime By Renee McCardell If you're reading this, then wedding photographs are something you care about. Why would you spend the better part of a year planning a wedding if you didn't want to remember it forever? Most brides agree on this point: If money were no object, their favorite wedding photographer would be secured, without hesitation. As a bride, you are likely in the middle of making some very expensive decisions – and a lot of them. As owner and photographer at McCardell Photography, I have noticed a trend of brides finding an amateur photographer, or worse, a friend with a fancy camera, to commemorate the most important, (read: expensive) day of their lives. Since weddings costs can snowball faster than a Himalayan avalanche, this is happening more and more. Keeping costs in line is becoming essential. While it is totally understandable to pursue thriftiness, the importance of making informed decisions, as with all big purchases, should not be overlooked. The basic equation to be considered is this: good camera = good photos. Right? Wrong. This is simply not the case. I have photographed hundreds of weddings. There are always guests using nice cameras. Sometimes they have the exact camera I use and have even take some nice shots. But that doesn't make them capable of handling the photography for an entire wedding. A professional wedding photographer brings a lot more to the wedding than a nice camera. Let me put it this way; you wouldn't go up in an airplane with an aviation enthusiast just because the auto-pilot feature is available, would you? Sure, they might be able to get your where your going, but what if something goes wrong? What if expertise is needed that they don't have? While many would argue that weddings are not exactly the same thing – that they aren't life or death – the point is still the same. It's a very costly mistake. Additionally, the whole situation could easily be avoided by planning and setting priorities. The moral of the story is this: you just don't cut corners on things where the risk is too great. There are no do-overs.
I am going to share with you five reasons to budget for a professional wedding photographer. Every bride should know what is sacrificed by cutting costs on photography. If you care at all about your wedding photos – or your friendships – you might just want to keep reading. 1. Ideas: Every wedding is unique, but they generally have a flow. There are countless opportunities for photographs during the course of an eight-plus-hour wedding day, but they are not all equally important. An experienced wedding photographer knows and understands weddings, so there is a large capacity for creative thinking. Sure, you could ask an amateur photographer to go on Pinterest for ideas, but you will likely end up holding hands in a field of tall grass drinking lemonade. It was new and different once upon a time, but not so much anymore. For por-
traits that really look and feel like you, there must be creative thinking happening on the day of your wedding. Even the best-laid plans for photos can be derailed by too much sun, or the fourletter R-word – rain. A professional wedding photographer can make both of these scenarios work to their advantage. 2. Skill: There are shots you should expect to see as a bride. The safe shots. The safe shots are on just about every photography shot list you'll see. This list should be the minimum. When you hire a professional, you are paying for their ability to make good decisions. We know you want pictures of the rings, the kiss, the cake, etc. A professional can get you the safe shots, and more. Our job is to get you the images you don't even know are possible. Skill is developed over time, in conjunction with
Continued on page 73
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The 2013 PPNC Traveling Loan Collection
Shannon Turner, Maimed
Leslie Mills, Inner City Blues
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Shannon Turner, Maimed
Ellen LeRoy, Sarah Beth
Chris Garner, Smokin’
Karen Goforth, In the Spotlight for the Day
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Ellen LeRoy, City Slicker
Shannon Turner, The Worley Family
Mona Kay Sadler, Once Again Stella Gets Her Way
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Adrian Henson, Late Nite Snack
Karen Goforth, Anna & Nick
Adrian Henson, Waldo
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Brian Allen, Born into Apathy
Lisa Carter, Allure
Jonathan Burton, River House
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Jim Woltjen, Wistful Thoughts
Mona Kay Sadler, Don’t Swim in My Pond
Jonathan Burton, Sentry in the Snow
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Richard Cox, Determination and Dreams
Randy McNeilly, Now and Then
Jonathan Burton, A New Chapter
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Adrian Henson, Still Life
Adrian Henson, Calico Jack
Debbie Johnson, Swiss Village
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Adrian Henson, Ssssymbolism
Paul Wingler, The Age of Innocence
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Angela Blankenship, Charming
PPNC’s Officers
From left, Executive Director Loretta Byrd, Treasurer Ned Winn, Vice-President Rose Mary Cheek, Chairman of the Board Paul Wingler, President Bruce Williamson, President-Elect Ellis Williamson and Secretary Adrian Henson.
PPNC’s Board of Directors
Seated, from left: Loretta Byrd, Executive Director; Ned Winn, Treasurer; Cassie Stone, National Council and Director; Rose Mary Cheek, Vice President; Ellis Williamson, President-Elect; Paul Wingler, Chairman of the Board; and Adrian Henson, Secretary. Standing, from left: Robert Yarbrough, Director; Tim Hester, Seminar Chairman and Director; Joy Batchelor-King, National Council and Director; Dannie Daniel, Director; Bob Henderson, Seminar Chairman and Director; Bruce Williamson, President; Cathy Yount, Seminar Chairman and Director; Brian Allen, Director; Misty Felde, Dorector; and Bill Goode, National Council and Director. Missing from photo is Willias Brown, Director; Janet Boschker, National Council and Director; Mardy Murphy, Director; and Phil Aull, Honoray Board Member.
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PPNC 2013 Print Salon Winners
Having an Einstein Moment Mona Kay Sadler
Daddy’s Girl Richard Cox
Ivy Karen Goforth
Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
CHILDREN Angela Blankenship Bonnie Burton Angela Blankenship Richard Cox Angela Blankenship
Joshua” Waiting to Grow Up” Sweet & Spicy” Determination and Dreams Charming
Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
GROUPS Peggy Rogerson Randy McNeilly Randy McNeilly Shannon Turner
Waiting for Ava The Real McCoys Now & Then The Worley Family
Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
MEN Richard Cox Rose Mary Cheek Leslie Mills Ellen LeRoy
Daddy’s Girl If Only Inner City Blues City Slicker
Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
WOMEN Janet Boschker Randy McNeilly Karen Goforth Chris Garner Lisa Carter
The Debutant A Girl & Her Bow Ivy Smokin Allure
Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
PETS & ANIMALS Mona Kay Sadler Having an Einstein Moment Ellen LeRoy Wood Duck Wake Aurora DeLuca Whatchya Doin’? Mona Kay Sadler Once Again Stella Gets Her Way Adrian Henson Ssssymbolism
Third Place Second Place First Place
PICTORIAL Lisa Carter Frosty Morning Jonathan Burton Shady Conversation Shannon Turner Maimed
Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
COMMERCIAL GENERAL Peggy Rogerson Avoca Lindsay McManus The Cabbage Debbie Johnson Swiss Village Adrian Henson Calico Jack
Third Place Second Place First Place
UNCLASSIFIED Liyun Yu Antenna Adrian Henson Waldo Adrian Henson Still Life
Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
SCENIC AND FINE ART Janet Boschker Moody Morning Rose Mary Cheek Composition in Red Vanessa Woodlock Fields of Sadness Jonathan Burton Sentry in the Snow Jonathan Burton River House
Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
PHOTOJOURNALISM Christina Holcomb Struggle Vanessa Woodlock Backstage Christina Leggett The Bird Man Brian Allen Born into Apathy Paul Wingler The Age of Innocence
2013 Print Salon Winners Second Place First Place
BRIDAL PORTRAIT Ellen LeRoy Sarah Beth Jonathan Burton A New Chapter
Second Place First Place
WEDDING CANDID Karen Goforth In the Spotlight for the Day Jim Woltjen Wistful Thoughts
First Place
WEDDING ALBUM Karen Goforth Anna & Nick
Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Third Place Second Place First Place
ELECTRONIC IMAGING Adrian Henson Dominatrix Adrian Henson Gladiators Ellen LeRoy The Eternal Vigil Adrian Henson Late Nite Snack Mona Kay Sadler Don’t Swim in My Pond
Waiting for Ava Peggy Rogerson Best of Show Adrian Henson Calico Jack Lex Jet Award Randy McNeilly Now & Then Polaroid Awards Portraits Adrian Henson Ssssymbolism Wedding Jonathan Burton A New Chapter Illustrative Paul Wingler Age of Innocence CPP Award Adrian Hensen With Print Case Average of 86.67 Moody Morning Janet Boschker
ASP Award
Paul Wingler
Age of Innocence
President’s Award
Julie Shuey With Print case Average of 77.50
Photographer of the Year ... Adrian Henson
The Bird Man Christina Leggett
The Real McCoys Randy McNeilly Joshua Angela Blankenship
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Images from the 2013 PPNC Convention
Participants in the Past Presidents’ Luncheon
From the youngest to the oldest PPNC members - Katelyn McKay Soderlund to Guy Cox.
PPNC’s very own Guy Cox, a former PPNC President, chats with current PPNC President Bruce Williamson.
Thirty-five of our more than 60 new members. Welcome to all!
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What PPNC’s members are talking about A collection of Facebook postings
In response to a group photo taken of 35 of the 60 new members at the convention, Fuller Royal posted “Welcome all of you. We hope you all felt like family. I am not the only one excited to see so many new faces. It was a thrill meeting you and we all look forward to seeing you at the guilds, schools and conventions to come.” “The highlight of this day was the newbies’ entrance into the board meeting ... all the hootin’ and hollerin’ was wild,” posted Donna Bellous. Light Pro organizer Kevin Jordan said the new photographers he worked with will make a great addition to PPNC. PPMC Secretary Ned Winn posted “Glad to have you all on board.” Terrance Carter loved the photo and pointed out “I would like to thank the photo committee for a great job this year, you guys rock.” PPNC President Bruce Williamson posted “What a great group. It was wonderful meeting you. Welcome to the PPNC Family. Remember, We are Family.” Anne Grant posted “We are all looking forward to seeing all the new members get involved in PPNC ... and go on to great heights of success in your photographic careers. Come to everything and chat it up in the PPNC group. There are no dumb questions.” PPNC Chairman of the Board Paul Wingler posted “Totally awesome group. PPNC has a great future ahead if this is any indication of the caliber of members that are coming in. Y’all rock.” Seminar Chairman and Director Bob Henderson posted “I’m glad to see all the new faces. It’s great to have you, and it’s great that we have an image to visualize who’s who. Not to wear out a theme, but you will only get out of PPNC what you put into PPNC.” PPNC Director Mardy Murphy posted “Hooray, new members.” PPNC Vice President and Print Chair Rose Mary Cheek Wow, asked “How many want to work Print Team next year?” K.J. Bradley replied “Is that the team that works in the print competition room? If it is on the weekend, I’ll be glad to do it.” George P Joell commented on new member Katelyn McKay Soderlund, the youngest member. “She is awesome. I never saw a frown on her face the entire convention. She always has a youthful pleasant smile. I think she is the future of the PPNC.”
Fuller Royal called Light Pro a “true highlight of the convention. “We were happy to be included,” posted Jen Snow of Larson Enterprises. “It was a great time.” Edie Puckett said she had put the lighting information she learned at PPNC and the marketing skills into use. “Had an amazing family session and a kick-butt bridal session,” she posted. “Probably two of my best sessions ever.” From pre-convention class instructor Woody Walters, this post: “What a fantastic time I had at PPNC. How honored I was to judge and to teach. Amazing talent, amazing vision, amazing images and what a great group of people. Thank you for having me ... Thank you.” “This is awesome,” posted Karen Goforth. “The great thing is they will tell their speaker friends. That’s how PPNC rolls.” About Light Pro, Larry Hersberger posted “We had quite a crowd! It is a great way to teach and learn. Many students with cameras so they could put the knowledge into practice and see immediate results.” “On behalf of our Light Pro Studio Lab Crew, I want to thank PPNC for allowing us to be part of the convention this year,” Kevin Jordan posted. “The coaches, models, and students did a fantastic job working together late into the nights. If you enjoyed the Lab tell your photographer friends we plan to be back at PPNC again next year! “Thanks to Larson, Kevin, all the models, and members that made Light Pro Lab happen,” posted K.J. Bradley. “It was one of the highlights of the convention for me. In fact, I blogged about it yesterday. “Wish we were still there” posted Chris Garner. “Thanks to everyone at PPNC,” posted Misty Smith Felde. “The convention was amazing! It was so great seeing old and new friends. Great speakers! I loved the fun sitting around with my buds chatting it up and watching chair races. Priceless.” Angela Dawn Blankenship posted “Thank you for bringing Light Pro Studio Lab to PPNC.” Cecil Hudgins posted “It was one of the highlights for me, also. I didn’t have any previous studio experience so having direct access to professional lights, models and instructors was well worth
the price of admission and more. Good job and thanks for your long hours. The models were great.” Adrian Henson: “Thank you, it was awesome.” Misty Smith Felde posted “Thank you so much for all the effort and hard work that everyone put into Light Pro. You guys are awesome!” Bruce Williamson posted “Thanks Kevin for your efforts in making this one of the best PPNC conventions. I look forward to working with you in the future.” Kevin Jordan responded “Glad to be an active member. Best convention I can remember and it sounds like next year will be even better!” James Dockery posted “Thanks Kevin. I saw the new members eating this up. Glad to hear you’re doing this next year. I’m sure the word will spread and this will be the highlight for many.” Fuller Royal posted “I think Light Pro needs to be at every convention. It was awesome! I’d take it a step further and hook up some large screen televisions so the coaches’ images could be seen as soon as they take them. Place the televisions above the action. Talk about an attention getter.” Cecil Hudgins posted “Fuller, I totally agree. The session we had with Tim Meyer with the tethered shooting was very useful. It helps to see the images after the change in setup.” Amy Voigt Stern posted “I enjoyed and learned all kinds of new stuff at this convention. Kudos to all those who worked so hard organizing it. I especially appreciated Fuller’s Pre Con class on Friday.” Anne Grant posted “Congratulations to Rose Mary Cheek on your well deserved PPNC Award. Your story and the photos of you over the years were beautiful, but you just keep getting better.” Bob Henderson posted “Rose Mary is a great example of the perfect PPNC member. Congrats to her and many thanks for all she’s done.” Rose Mary Cheek responded, “Thanks everyone. I am so humbled and truly was so absolutely surprised.” Connie Jarzyna posted, “You deserve it. You’ve put in a lot of hard work, energy and effort. You’re very dedicated. Thanks from all of us. Just would love to have half that energy. You keep keepin’ on.” Elaine Barnette posted “You are the
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Facebook posts Continued from page 71 best. What a wonderful friend.” Lisa H. Carter posted “Rose Mary so deserves this. Always there for the association and anyone who reaches out to her. I really hate that I was not there for this.” Marilyn Sholin posted “Just wanted to say thank you to the warm welcome we felt at the PPNC Convention this year. It was amazing to meet so many new people and we had a great time seeing old friends also. We feel a part of being in the ‘family’ now thanks to you all. Brian Allen you make me laugh, but throw in Chuck Hill and I’m a goner. Adrian henson, you amaze me and make me reach beyond again with my camera. I bow down to your genius. And to everyone else and Paul Wingler, Victoria Kelly, Rose Mary Cheek and more ... a huge thank you. It was a great convention” Dilip Barman posted, “It sure went fast! I wish that it didn’t start so early. I’m in a daze after so many early mornings, but I still enjoyed it, as always.” James Dockery posted “Awesome convention. Thanks Paul and everyone who made this so awesome. Congrats to all the award recipients. Cristy Leggett posted “Nice to meet so many, including a new friend, Marie Turner White. Ned Winn and Chuck Hill were a hoot on the dance floor and many more. “Too many to mention. Peggy Rogerson, I neglected to thank you for your advice and encouragement when thanking Beth Niser in an earlier post. I do sincerely appreciate it.” Bruce Williamson posted “As the newly elected president of PPNC, I want to thank past president Paul Wingler and his convention chairs Victoria Kelly and Craig York. This was one of the best PPNC conventions that I have attended. Great job guys.” Paul Wingler responded “Thanks Bruce ... and with your lead, it is only going to get better and better.” Carol Melton posted “Should be another great year ... if your enthusiasm is any indicator.” Adrian Henson posted “I would like to personally compliment the fantastic energy that the new members brought to convention this year. “While we have always had great and fun times at convention, you guys were over the top. I look forward to all the new friendships that will made over the next year.”
Darren Thompson posted “I agree with KJ. The members were great and treated us newbies like we had been there all along. Great meeting you this weekend Adrian Henson. Looking forward to the coming year.: K.J. Bradley posted “I have attended many professional conferences (mostly non-photography) and I have to say, this ranks as one of the best because of the people. Thanks for making us newbies feel welcome.” Tim Jacobs posted “As I said in New Member Orientation, I have been part of many organizations but this is the daggonedest group I have ever been part of. I am exited about the opportunities that lie ahead. “Thank you all for making us (Eabby and me) feel so welcomed.” Ellen Safrit LeRoy posted “It’s so great to have a group of supportive friends who can share your passion for photography. We are so happy to add more to our group. Welcome, welcome.” Renee McCardell posted “Next year’s convention can’t come soon enough. Looking forward to it already.” Bruce Williamson posted “I am just now recovering from one of the best PPNC conventions ever. Next year will be even better. Please let my convention co-chairs, Ellen Safrit LeRoy And Tim Hester Know what you did or did not like at this convention. Many thanks to everyone, especially to our new members.” Cristy Leggett posted “I learned a ton of things. The Band of Oz party was great (my body still aches today from all the laughing and dancing) and winning an award was an honor I can not even find the words to express ... I am still in disbelief. What a great time.” Autumn Joyner Hollifield posted “I so enjoyed convention this year! I had to leave Sunday night but next year come hell or high water I will stay for the whole thing. Thanks to all the speakers and those involved in the light pro lab. It was awesome” Loney Johnson posted “As being a new member, I can only say I continue to be blessed with wonderful people in my life. I now have a new wonderful family, my PPNC family. I had such wonderful time. It was so educational, entertaining and thought-provoking. “I left with an even greater love for the craft of photography. I’ve always been confident that I can reach the stars but I now have an avenue to achieve such a
dream. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. I am so excited and ready to jump in and be an active part of the success of PPNC. I’m proud to say I’m a member of PPNC.” Adrian Henson posted “I think it is awesome that Lisa Lisa H. Carter from Virginia won first place for Portrait of a Woman at PPNC’s Award Ceremony tonight. Does anyone else know why that is special? A member is a member is a member. There is no more Out of State classification.” Meredith Cornett Hart posted “This is special. I know from being a PPNC member for many years and now having to live in South Carolina due to my husband’s career as a Marine, that I didn’t like being considered or lumped into the out-of-state category when I was born and raised in North Carolina.” Paul Wingler posted “We’re listening. Glad you like the changes. I think this change will step up the game because there are a lot of great image makers in Virginia and South Carolina. It will be great to compete on a level field. Lovin’ it.” Sherry Whitt posted “Thank you Paul and everyone who worked so hard to have a wonderful 2013 Convention.” Anne Battey Grant posted “During this convention I heard more teaching about lighting ratios, facial analysis, f-stops, depth of field, etc. than I have heard in years. Kudos to the speakers and Light Pro mentors for teaching photography, the study of light.” Bob Henderson posted “And, personally, I learned more than in years past. Good information from every speaker on a level that I can use personally. Working on the ‘Blair Phillips’ hairstyle, but not making much headway.” Karen Goforth posted “I totally agree Anne Battey Grant. So refreshing.” Joanna Cumbo posted “What an awesome time we had. The models were phenomenal and worked tirelessly shot after shot. Kevin, Jen and Larry were there for encouragement, support and direction. Thank you all and every vendor that supplied equipment. Kimberly Austin posted “Had an awesome time in Fuller’s class yesterday. And looking forward to Karen’s class this afternoon. I just have to say PPNC Rocks.” Chris Garner posted “Awesome class today with the great Woody Walters. Never stop learning.”
McCardell Continued from page 17 ongoing education and practice. Deciding which lens to use, where to stand, what to do when something goes wrong, etc, become second nature. I don't shoot my camera in auto mode at all, but the first time I shot a wedding as an assistant, I did. It was seven years ago, and it was traumatic. All sorts of things went wrong, including several equipment snafus, but the most stressful thing was the fact that all of the guests assumed I was a legitimate professional. They did not know I was an unpaid assistant getting experience. Your guests will assume the one with a camera is capable of quality work and they will make requests. I had a request for a big group photo of cousins who hadn't seen each other in a decade. It was at a dimly lit reception of a small venue, the lead photographer was someplace else, and I had accidentally put the camera on red-eye reduction mode. I was freaking out. Fortunately, my associate returned just in time, but I swore off weddings until I was adequately educated to handle all the responsibilities of the day. 3. Leadership: This characteristic is totally underrated. Your photographer is often the only vendor who will be with you all say on one of the biggest days of your life. Personality is super important. This is where it can be tough – while it may seem like a great idea to have a friend or family member photograph your wedding, it almost never works out as you think it will. It's like dating a guy who your friends don't like. They can't make you see what they see. By the time you find out they were right, it's too late – all the advice in the world didn't spare you from going through it yourself. Well, I will attempt to spare you from learning this lesson the hard way. When someone offers to photograph your wedding as a favor, they have the best of intentions, but don't confuse their intent with their ability. It is unlikely they will succeed in creating amazing wedding photos, because they are inexperienced and the only thing tying them to this event is their affection for you. This often translates to the amateur photographer deferring to you, the bride, during the wedding itself. This means you will end up dictating when and where the photos should be taken, coming up with
ideas, and giving orders for everyone to hurry up because your friend is not comfortable coercing folks into order. It can be very hard to successfully organize and arrange a large group of people if you haven’t done it before. Can you see everyone’s faces? Are all the people there? Is the arrangement balanced? What about the people who have started drinking already and are not following directions? Could your friend quickly put the groups together under these circumstances so everyone can get to the reception? This is where leadership is sorely missed. When you hire a professional to photograph your wedding, they are not there as a guest, or in a pseudo-friendship role. They should be kind, flexible, easygoing and pleasant, but also be able to gently command a group and get things done. 4. Posing and Coaching: When people say they hate being photographed, I'm convinced they dislike the experience of being photographed. If the resulting photos are bad, that just adds insult to injury. I have yet to hear people complain of their photos when the images are flattering. So, what that tells me is that the positive experience of being photographed is directly proportional to the images being flattering. An experienced photographer knows how to get people to relax. It's our job to put you in the correct light and encourage you to be yourself. The trick is to pose you in a way that looks like you are not posed at all. Someone with little to no experience will likely be too involved in camera settings to be able to position you. Additionally, the magic is in the details – the tilt of the head, the fingertip placement, and the small nuances that help people look like themselves in a photograph. Things can go wrong when an inexperienced person has control. I mean, who wants their wedding photos on awkwardfamilyphotos.com? 5. Computer Systems and Editing: After a wedding, I generally return home with a couple thousand images to upload, sort and edit. This is no small feat. A professional photographer has a workflow for this multi-stage process. The first step, though, is storing and backingup the images. If one hard drive fails, there are safety measures in place to ensure the images are safe. Without professional storage and
hard drive space, this is just not possible. Storage is essential, but editing is also an area of expertise that is important. Photos straight out of the camera can look pretty good, however, the fine-tuning that editing provides can really make images stand out. It's kind of like getting your haircut at a really great salon and leaving with your hair wet. You may have gotten a great haircut, but no one can really see it because it's unfinished. Since the editing process takes many hours, you will benefit from hiring someone who makes a living doing this very thing. Editing and delivering your wedding images is part of the process. An amateur is likely working another full-time job and there is no telling how long you could wait before the images are ready. These five reasons are some of the most compelling arguments for selecting a professional wedding photographer. Of course, there are many other reasons, too – I haven't even touched upon how important it is to have back up equipment and adequate lenses. Or liability insurance. Or lighting, for that matter. Many amateur photographers have found themselves struggling in a dark church where flash photography is prohibited. It's downright scary knowing what is at stake. Allowing someone inexperienced handle your wedding photography can be a terrible burden for both parties. When you hire a professional wedding photographer, you are paying to be treated as a client, with all the privileges that accompany that status. It means you can have legitimate expectations of your photographer! You can expect to have someone dedicated to focus on preserving your wedding memories both before, during and after the event. Are you planning to have your dog be the ring bearer? Are you jumping into a swimming pool at the end of the night? A professional wedding photographer can get these shots. If your friend or family member takes the photos and they are terrible, what are your options? Bite your tongue forever? Tell them and hurt their feelings? Neither of these scenarios end well. Hiring professionals buys you the right to be treated like the bride - you will be investing in others' expertise so you can really live in the moments of your wedding day. Because there are no do-overs; not with the wedding, or the friendship.
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Just one more ...
Layers of Ecuador by Laura Wessell